Open boat



1969 P. LUNDE. JR 3,459,150

OPEN BOAT Filed Dec. 6, 1967 VENTOR. 4

United States Patent 3,459,150 OPEN BOAT Peder Lunde, In, Frederik Stangs gate 12, Oslo, Norway Filed Dec. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 688,539 Claims priority, applicatisolgr lgorway, Dec. 10, 1966,

rm. Cl. 1363b 35/72 US. Cl. 114-183 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an open boat, preferably of the planing type.

According to the invention, the open boat is made with an internal bottom which lies above the surface of the water when the boat is unloaded in which, in the stern, there is at least one self-bailing opening.

Modern construction methods and construction materials have made it possible to give open boats a stability and buoyancy whereby it becomes possible to lay the internal bottom of the boat higher than the water level on the outside when the boat is at rest. Spray and other water, as for example rain water, will thus at all times be able to be led toward a hole in the stern where the water runs out and into the sea.

Preferably, the internal bottom is so made, according to the invention, that it inclines downwards in the direction towards the stern.

This helps the self-bailing, also when the boat is at rest. When in motion, the internal bottom will normally have an inclined position in the rearward direction even though horizontal when the boat is at rest, but also when in motion an intentional rearward and downward inclination of the internal bottom will mean an advantage. In a preferred design of the invention, the space between the outer and inner bottom is filled out with a solid material, for example foam plastic. This form of construction is particularly advantageous when the boat is made of plastic materials that is to say when the hull itself is made of such plastic materials. The double bottom filled with foam plastic gives a very rigid and good construction with excellent buoyancy.

In order further to improve the self-bailing, the selfbailing opening may, according to the invention, be so arranged that it lies below the level of the internal bottom in that, at all events in the region of the self-bailing opening, there are one or more longitudinal channels in the internal bottom leading to the self-bailing opening. The result of this is that spray and rain water collects in the canal which leads rearward to the self-bailing opening so that the floor itself is more easily kept free from water.

Open boats, particularly the planing type, often have a stern well, that is to say a separate space between the stern and the cockpit. In such a boat, the channel or the channels according to the invention, may be in the bottom, in that there is at least one drain opening in the bulkhead between the well and the cockpit in front. With such an arrangement, good bailing of the cockpit is achieved,

Patented Aug. 5, 1969 even when the self-bailing opening lies in the surface of the water when the boat is at rest, because any water which might enter the cockpit will run out through the drain opening and into the well. From there, the water will flow out through the self-bailing opening and if this should lie in the water surface, such as is the case for example when the boat is laden, the water will collect in the well. As soon as the boat is in motion, the selfbailing opening will be freed, and the water in the well will then be able to flow out sternwards.

When more heavily ladened, the boat may be pressed so far down that the water level on the outside of the boat will rise and come higher than the internal bottom with the result that the water will run in. In order to avoid this, the self-bailing opening is arranged at such a height that the outlet is in the surface of the water when the boat is unladened and at rest, and it is fitted with a non-return valve. This non-return valve will close the self-bailing opening if the pressure on the outside becomes large enough for the water to enter. When the boat is in motion or when it once again only has a normal load, the nonreturn valve will open and the self-bailing opening will then be opened for self-bailing.

The invention will be described below in more details with reference to a preferred design. The invention is not here limited to the special type of boat shown and discussed.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a longitudinal section through the stern frame of an open boat which is shown in section in FIGURE 2. The section shown in FIGURE 2 corresponds to the line IIII in FIGURE 1.

As may be seen from FIGURE 2, the invention is illustrated in connection with a boat with three keels, that is to say with centre keel and two side keels. A boat of this type has great stability and buoyancy, and as shown the internal bottom in the boat lies higher than the level of the water on the outside when the boat is at rest.

The boat illustrated is made of plastic with an external bottom 1 and an internal bottom 10. The double bottom is filled with foam plastic 11. The boat has a straight transom wall 2, and in front of this there is a stern well 5 which is separated from the cockpit 13 with the help of a bulkhead 8.

In the bulkhead 8 there is a drain opening 7 which is fitted with a plug 9. This plug acts as an extra safety device against water running into the boat from the stern well, and is used only when the boat is heavily laden and at rest.

In the stern well there is a longitudinal channel 6 which leads sternwards to a self-bailing opening 3. The selfbailing opening itself as provided by the structural means shown in FIG. 1 including a ball valve 4 which works as a non-return valve. As shown, the ball valve 4 lies in the surface of the water 12. The boat is, in the drawing, shown in the unladen condition and is, in this condition self-bailing. With the type of boat shown, the boat would be able to take engine, full petrol tank and two persons without the self-bailing effect disappearing. If more heavily loaded, the boat would be pressed so far down that the level of the water on the outside of the boat rises and goes over the non-return valve. The ball 4 will then shoot up and close the valve. If the boat is again returned to normal loading, the ball will fall back and the self-bailing opening will again be open. The same effect will result if the boat with the said heavier load, is set in motion. The selfbailing opening with the non-return valve will then be freed and the non-return valve will open so that the boat will bail itself. This self-bailing effect is due to the fact that, when in motion, a water-free region will form itself by the self-bailing opening in the transom wall.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an open self-bailing boat of the type including spaced external and internal bottoms, a transom wall at the stern of the boat, a depression in the internal bottom at the stern of the boat extending to the transom wall, and an opening leading from said depression for discharging Water therefrom to a point outside the boat, wherein the improvement comprises a channel structure in the internal bottom in the stern of the boat having a bottom wall located intermediate the levels of the external and internal bottoms of the boat, said channel bottom wall extending to the transom wall, means defining a self-bailing opening or passageway in the transom wall located below the level of the internal bottom and having an outlet located at a height such that it is approximately in the surface of the water surrounding the boat when the boat is unladen and at rest, said self-bailing opening or passageway having an inlet in said channel, and a non-return valve for said self-bailing opening or passageway.

2. A boat as claimed in claim 1, including a transverse bulkhead located toward the stern of the boat in spaced References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,140,469 5/1915 Lundin 1l4--l83 X 2,929,347 3/1960 Veltman 114-183 2,949,879 8/ 1960 Kehn 9 3 X 2,959,144 11/1960 Youtie 114-185 2,984,201 5/1961 Crabb 93 X 3,035,283 5/1962 Mott 93 ANDREW H. FARRELL, Primary Examiner 

